Single and mutiple blank cartons



Feb. 7, 1967 R. T. ELIAS SINGLE AND MULTIPLE BLANK CARTONS Original Filed May 6, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l 65 ii INVENTOR j Eoaaz'r'TI ELms 67 ea g g (i T2 3 BY ATTORNEYS Mb 7 E? R. T. ELIAS SINGLE AND MULTIPLE BLANK CARTONS Original Filed May 6, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR ROBERT F. Emma,

Feb. L 3%? R. T. ELIAS 3,302,849

SINGLE AND MULTIPLE BLANK CARTONS Original Filed May 6, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m ma 1 I 53 K150 S ATTORNEY:

Hzh H7 R. T. ELIAS 3,3@2,49

SINGLE AND MULTIPLE BLANK CARTONS Original Filed May 6, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EOBEEZT T Euns BY 0 I t 4mm T'TORNEYS United States Patent 3,302,849 SINGLE AND MULTIPLE BLANK CARTONS Robert T. Elias, Downers Grove, Iii, assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Griginal application May 6, I963, Ser. No. 278,138, now Patent No. 3,237,838, dated Mar. 1, 1966. Divided and this application Get. 24, 1965, er. No. 504,717 11 Claims. (Cl. 229-43) This application constitutes a division of my copending commonly assigned application for US. Letters Patent, Serial No. 278,138, filed May 6, 1963, and now Patent No. 3,237,838.

This invention relates to a novel foldable carton constructed from reinforced paperboard which affords a more rigid structure at any given weight of paper or similar material, thus providing a carton which is neater in appearance and more durable in use.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel leakproof carton constructed from resilient or flexible material, the carton including a bottom panel, side panels, a top panel, a front panel and a back panel, the plurality of panels forming a substantially polygonal carton body, at least some of the plurality of panels being formed from separate pieces of paperstock material provided with flange-forming panel strips, the flange forming panel strips being employed to perform the dual function of securing individual separate panels together to form a substantially rectangular carton blank, and being foldable to form a plurality of rigid reinforcing flanges at each juncture of adjacent panels.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel carton of the type described above wherein the top panel, the front panel and the side panels are each formed from a single perfectly rectangular piece of paperstock material or alternatively, three of these panels are constructed from a single piece of paperstock material while a fourth panel is formed from a separate piece of material, or the side and front panels are constructed from a single piece of material while the remaining two panels are either formed from one separate piece or two separate pieces of paperstock material, and whatever the combination of pieces forming the carton, the same includes a plurality of rigid reinforcing flanges at each juncture of adjacent panels of the carton body and no raw edge of any of the plurality of panels is exposed to the interior of the carton body.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel carton of the type immediately above described wherein the panels of the carton body subjected to severe bending or folding are constructed from thin, light-weight paperstock or similar material having substantially long fibers while the panels of the carton body subjected to slight bending or folding are formed from substantially stiffer and heavier weight paperstock material, thereby forming a folcla-ble carton in which each panel optimumly performs its own particular purpose without at the same time having the qualities which a neighboring panel of the plurality of panels might need for a different purpose.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel carton constructed in the manner above described,

-the carton including a plurality of corners, each corner plurality of panels and yet retain the leak-proof characteristics of the carton.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation-a1 view of a folding carton constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a carton body constructed from a plurality of separate, substantially rectangular panels secured together.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the carton of FIGURE 1, and illustrates the carton body of FIGURE 1 after the same has been set-up, a bottom wall thereof closed and sealed, and an open-mouth top prior to filling the carton with a product and sealing the same.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the folding carton in a substantially flat conditon for purposes of shipment, storage and prior to being set-up to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional 'view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, and illustrates the crosssectional configuration of the set-up carton of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded top plan View of a pair of dissimilar rectangular pieces of sheet material, two of the larger illustrated pieces forming the front and back panels of the folding carton and two of the smaller rectangular pieces forming identical opposed side walls of the carton.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a sub stantially rectangular composite blank formed from a plurality of the rectangular pieces of sheet material of FIGURE 5, and illustrates the dissimilar rectangular pieces alternately secured together to form the composite blank from which the folding carton of FIGURES 1 through 4 is constructed.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along line 77 of FIGURE 6 and illustrates the substantially flat configuration of the composite blank and a pair of spaced flange-forming panel strips on each of the narrower of the rectangular pieces underlying and secured adjacent longitudinal edges of the wider of the two rectangular pieces to form a plurality of substantially identical rigid reinforcing flanges of the carton body.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a substan tially rectangular composite blank, similar to the composite blank of FIGURE 6, but differing therefrom in that only two substantially rectangular pieces of sheet material are secured together to form the composite blank.

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along line 9-? of FIGURE 8, and more clearly illustrates the cross-sectional configuration and folding of the two rectangular blanks of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a composite blank, similar to the composite blanks of FIG- URES 10 through 13, but formed from only two rectangular blanks secured together.

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of another composite blank, and illustrates three substantially rectangular pieces of sheet material folded and secured together to form the composite blank.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of another carton constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a plurality of spaced reinforcing flanges formed from a plurality of flange-forming; panel strips of a side and top panel of the carton.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIGURE 12, and illustrates a plurality of horizontally extending reinforcing flanges of the carton.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 14ll4 of FIGURE 12, and illustrates a vertical side flange formed between a front panel and a pair of opposed top and bottom panels of the carton.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIGURE 12, and more clearly illustrates a pair of vertical reinforcing flanges formed from a side panel, a front panel, and a back panel of the carton.

FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of a plurality of components from which the carton of FIGURES 12 through 15 is constructed, and illustrates a pair of substantially identical rectangular panels and an elongated rectangular panel.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner formed by the intersection of any three panels of a carton similar to the carton of FIGURE 12 and shows a tab portion struck from the material of one panel and adhesively secured to a reinforcing flange constructed from overlapped flange-forming panel strips of the other two panels.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of a blank from which the corner construction of FIGURE 17 is fabricated, and illustrates a pair of severance lines which form the tab.

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIGURE 17, and more clearly illustrates the overlapping construction between the tab and the reinforcing flange.

FIGURE 20 is a top perspective view of another carton constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a two-piece carton having a top constructed from two pieces of paperstock material and provided with a plurality of reinforcing flanges formed from a plurality of flange-forming panel strips of one of the pieces of material.

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the carton of FIGURE 20, and illustrates the top prior to being fully telescoped about a bottom of the carton.

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the top of the carton of FIGURE 21, and illustrates the corner prior to being completely folded.

A carton constructed in accordance with this invention is best illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawings, and is generally referred to by the reference numeral 64. The carton 64 is constructed from a plurality of individual substantially rectangular pieces of sheet material which vary in area, composition, weight, grain direction and function.

The carton 64 is constructed from four sheet material blanks, two of which are illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings to which attention is now directed.

A first substantially rectangular sheet material blank 65, which is preferably constructed from paperstock material, includes a pair of transverse fold lines 66, 67. An area 63 between the spaced pair of fold lines 66 and 67 of the blank defines a front panel 68 of the carton 64. A top panel portion 70 lies between the fold line 66 and a top edge 71 of the blanks 65. Similarly, a bottom panel portion 72 lies between the fold line 67 and a bottom edge 73 of the blank 65. The blank 65 is also provided with an adhesive coated strip portion 74 adjacent an edge 75 of the blank 65 and a similar adhesive coating strip portion 76 adjacent an opposite edge 77 of the blank 65.

Another substantially rectangular sheet material blank 73 of FIGURE 5 includes a longitudinal edge 80 and another longitudinal edge 81. A longitudinal fold line 82 sets off a flange-forming strip 83 with the longitudinal edge 80 of the blank 78. Similarly, a longitudinal fold line 84 adjacent the longitudinal edge 81 of the blank 78 sets off therewith a flange-forming strip 85.

A pair of spaced parallel fold lines 86 and 87 and the longitudinal fold lines 82 and 8d bound an area which forms a side panel of the carton 64.

A top panel portion 9% of the blank 78 includes a pair of upwardly converging fold lines 91 which divide the top panel portion 91') into an isosceles-shaped panel portion 92 and a pair of spaced triangular panel portions 93.

Similarly, a bottom panel portion 94 Of the blank 78 is provided with a pair of converging fold lines 95 which divide the bottom panel portion 94 into an isoscelesshaped triangular portion 96 and a pair of spaced triangular panel portions 97.

To form the container 64, the blank 65 is joined to the blank 78 by folding the blank 73 along the longitudinal fold line 84 thereof and overlying the flangeforming strip 85 upon the adhesively coated strip 74 of the blank 65. The area 68 of the blank 65 forms a front panel 68 of the carton 66 while the area 88 of the blank 78 forms a first side panel 83 of the carton 64.

A pair of blanks 65 and 78' identical to the respective blank 65 and 78 are then similarly secured together by overlying a flange-forming strip 85' of the blank 78 upon an adhesively coated strip 74 of the blank 65. An area 88' of the blank 78' forms a second side panel of the carton 64 while an area 63' of the blank 65 forms a back panel of the carton 64. The blank-forming strip 83 of the blank 73 and a flange-forming strip 83 of the blank 78 are then respectively secured to an adhesive coated strip 76 of the blank 65' and the adhesive coated strip 76 of the blank 65.

The plurality of adhesively joined flange-forming strips and adhesively coated strips form a plurality of reinforcing flanges of the carton 64. A first reinforcing flange is formed by the strips 76 and 83, a second reinforcing flange is formed by the strips 74' and 85, a third reinforcing flange is formed by the strips 76 and 83', while a fourth reinforcing flange is formed by the strips 74 and 75.

Bottom and top panels of the carton 64 are formed by folding the blanks 65, 65, 7S and 78' by folding the isosceles-shaped triangular portions 92, 96 of the panels 78, 78' toward the axis of the carton. This folding of the isosceles-shaped triangular portions brings each of the pair of spaced triangular portions 93, 97 into overlying relationship with the isosceles-shaped triangular portions 92, 96 respectively. Folding then takes place about the fold lines 86, 87 before which adhesive is applied to terminal portions of the top and bottom panels to maintain the panels closed and sealed.

As is readily observable from FIGURES 2 through 4 of the drawings, the folding patterns for the side panels 78 and 78 are more complicated than for the folding of the front and back panels 68 and 68 respectively. The degree of bending of the blank 78 is more severe along the fold lines 91 and 95 than along the spaced fold lines 66 and 67 of the blank 65. Furtherfore, if the carton 64 is constructed from paperstock material, the quality of paperstock material required for severe folding is generally more expensive than stiffer shorter fiber material. That is, better folding is obtained by using a paperstock material which has long fibers for panel portions which must be subjected to complicated bends or folds. Thus, for the prime requisite of a carton in stiffness, shorter fibered stiffer paperboard is employed but where foldability is a primary requirement, long fibered paperboard material is used.

The carton 65 overcomes the disadvantages of cartons which are stiff and relatively non-foldable as well as cartons which are relatively foldable but are of insufficient strength. To this end the side panels 73 and 78 are constructed from relatively thin long fibered paperstock material while the front and back panels 63 and 68', respectively, are made of stiffer relatively shorter fibered paperstock material. Thus, the advantages of both long and short fibered material are achieved without sacrifice in strength due to the rigid reinforcing flanges of the carton 64.

Furthermore, the front and back panels of a carton are normally display panels while the side panels are information panels. Since the front and back panels 68 and 68, respectively of the carton 64 are relatively stiff, they may be readily printed upon or decorated. Furthermore, the panels 68 and 68 could be readily specifically finished to permit fine printing, they may be foil laminated, and if desired, these panels could be of different colors obtained directly from paper manufacturers rather than by printing upon unprinted paperstock material by known and more expensive printing processes.

In addition, by constructing the carton 64 from a plu' rality of individual blanks both paperstock and nonpaperstock material could be combined in a single carton. For example, one or both of the side panels 78 and 78' of the carton 64 could be made of plastic material and either one or both of the side panels could be transparent.

When the carton 64 is in the positions illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawings (prior to being completely flattened for shipping purposes) the front panel 68 and the back panel 68 shift toward each other and should overlie each other in intimate contact to prevent distortion or damage of the blanks during shipment. Intimate contact between the panels 68 and 68' would be impossible if the blanks 78 and 78' were not made of relatively thin material. Furthermore, when the carton 64 is erected the top panel portions 70 and 70 as well as the bottom panel portions 72 and 72' must come together and successfully seal past the obstructions offered by the triangular panel portions 92, 93, 96 and 97 of the blank 78, as well as the similar triangular panels associated with the blank 78'. Once again, because of the thinner material of the blanks 78 and 78' eflicient sealing of the panels 70, 7t), 72 and 72 is facilitated and leakers are highly unlikely.

It is also extremely important to recognize that while the carton 64 is constructed from four separate blanks having a total of sixteen raw or severed edges, none of these raw edges are presented to the interior of the carton 64. Such raw edges, if exposed internally to a product packaged in the carton 64 could cause abrasion of the product, leakage if the product is a liquid or contains migratory liquid component, and because of the absorption of the product through the raw edges, staining and weakening the adhesive seams could occur. Raw edges are also a source of paper dust which could seriously contaminate a product contained in the carton 64.

Another advantage of the carton 64 is the ability to substitute panels for those illustrated for numerous purposes without the necessity of destroying the entire carton. For example, if information was printed on any one of the panels and it was necessary or desirable to change this information, the entire carton would otherwise necessarily have to be scrapped. Similarly, if the carton 65 was to be used for seasonal promotions, this could be accomplished with a minimum of change-overtime, minimum scrap and a minimum inventory by merely substituting one or more panels for the panels 68, 68, 78 and 78.

The carton 64 can also he changed in proportion as well as in printed information without changing the overall construction of the entire carton. Thus, the side panels 88, 88' of the respective blanks 78, 78 could be made Wider or narrower and yet made with the front panel 68 and the back panel 68. If the side panels 88 and 88' have information printed thereon, it could be changed without scrapping the entire carton 64 by substituting other side panels for the panels 88 and 88. Seasoal promotions could be handled with a minimum of changeovertime by merely changing any one of the blanks of the carton 64.

As was heretofore noted, the carton 64 may be shipped to a consumer in a generally flat folded condition, such as that shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. Alternatively, the carton 64 may be shipped to a consumer in a" substantially flat planar condition, such as that illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings. As is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the blank 65, 65', 78 and 78 are secured together along the respective adhesively coated strips and flange-forming portions 74' and 83 and 76, and 84 and 85. However, the flange-forming strip 83 and the adhesively coated strip 76' of the blank 65 are not adhesively joined. This allows the joined blanks 65, 78, 6S and 78 to be shipped in the substantially flat planar condition of FIGURE 7.

It is also possible to ship the joined composite blank of FIGURES 6 and 7 to a consumer without first folding the flange-forming strip 83 of the blank 78 to the position illustrated. That is, the flange-forming strip 83 does not have to be folded as shown best in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, but rather may occupy its unfolded position in the plane of the blank 78.

In either case the composite blank of FIGURES 6 and 7 can be shipped in a substantially flat planar condition to a customer without the necessity of providing protecting or spacing devices to preclude accidental or inadvertent damage to the composite blank.

It is, of course, not necessary to employ a plurality of blanks such as the blanks 65, 78', 65 and 78 to form the carton 64 of FIGURE 2. The same principle as that heretofore described would be applicable if three of the blanks of FIGURES 6 and 7 were constructed of a single piece of sheet material and an additional blank was secured thereto. Similarly, a side or front panel could be constructed from a single piece of paperstock material while the remaining panels could either be constructed from a single separate piece or from two separate pieces of paperstock material. These variations are illustrated in FIGURES 8 through 11 of the drawings.

In FIGURES 8 and 9 a composite blank 108 is constructed from two rectangular sheets of paperstock mate rial 181 and 182. The blank 161 is identical to the blank 68 of FIGURE 5.

The rectangular blank 16%, however, is folded to form a first side panel 183, a front panel 164 and a second side panel 165. The first and second side panels 103 and 185, respectively, are identical to the blank 78 of FIG- URE 5 except that the side panels 183 and 185 are formed by folding the rectangular :blank 102 along a plurality of fold lines 186, 107, 188, 169 and 110 whereas the blank 78 formed in the side panel 88 of the carton 64 is constructed from a single severed piece of rectangular material.

A carton substantially identical to the carton 64 of FIGURE 2 can be erected from the composite blank 166 by seeming a flange-forming strip 111 of the first side panel 103 to an adhesively coated strip 112 adjacent an edge 113 of the blank 161. The secured portion 111 and the strip 112 form a first reinforcing flange. A second reinforcing flange 114, a third reinforcing flange 115 and a fourth reinforcing flange 116 are also formed in a manner clearly shown in FIGURE 9 of the drawings. It is only necessary to note than an adhesive is applied to the panel 184 adjacent the fold lines 186 and 1168 prior to folding to bond together the portions of the panel 18 forming the reinforcing flanges 115 and 116. It is important to note that the blank 182 is constructed from thinner material than the blank 101 to enable the first and second side panels 183 and respectively to fold more readily in the manner heretofore discussed.

With reference to FIGURE 10 of the drawings, a composite blank 117 is illustrated and includes a firs-t rectangular blank 118 and a second rectangular blank 119. The composite blank 117 is substantially identical to the blanks of FIGURES 6 through 9 except that only two blanks, 118 and 119 are employed to form a first side panel 128, a front panel 121, a second side panel 122 and a back panel 123. The blanks 118 and 119 are adhesively joined together by a folded flange-forming por- '2 tion 124 of the second side panel 122 in underlying engagement with an adhesively coated flange-forming portion 124 and an adhesive coated strip 125 to form a reinforcing flange similar to the reinforcing flange formed by the flange-forming portion 83 and the adhesive coated strip 76 of FIGURE 7.

A second reinforcing flange is formed by securing an adhesive coated strip 126 of the back panel 123 to a flangeforming portion 127 while a third reinforcing flange is formed by securing an adhesively coated strip 128 of the back panel 121 to a similarly folded flange-forming strip 130. A fourth reinforcing flange is formed by securing a flange-forming strip 131 of the first side panel 129 to an adhesively coated strip 132 of the front panel 123.

A composite blank 133 of FIGURE 11 includes a first individual side panel 134, a separate heavier gauge back panel 135, and a front and second side panel forming blank 136. The composite blank is folded in the manner heretofore noted in connection with FIGURES 6 through to form a full flanged carton i.e., a carton having reinforcing flanges similar to those illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings. The side panels 134 and 136 are, again, constructed from a thinner, longer, fiber material than the stiffer back panel 135 for the reasons heretofore mentioned.

A carton 1411 shown in FIGURES 12 through is erected from a three-part composite blank 141 of FF- URE 16. The blank 141 includes identical respective front and back panel forming blanks 142 and 143, and an elongated rectangular blank 14 1.

Each of the blanks 142 and 143 includes a first side edge 145, a second side edge 1 16, a top edge 147 and a bottom edge 14-8. The substantially rectangular panel forming blanks 142 and 143 form respective front and back panels of the carton 1411 in a manner to be de scribed more fully hereafter.

The elongated rectangular body 144 includes a first discontinuous longitudinal edge 151 and a second discontinuous longitudinal edge 151. The elongated rectangular blank 144 further includes a first transverse edge 152 and a second transverse edge 153. The rectangular blank 144 includes a top panel portion 154, a first side panel portion 155, a bottom panel portion 156 and a second side panel 157.

The top panel portion 154 includes a top panel 158 bounded by a pair of longitudinal fold lines 15%} and a pair of transverse fold lines 161.. A first top flange forming strip 162 is set off by the first longitudinal edge 159 and an adjacent longitudinal fold line 1643. A second top flange-forming strip 163 is set off by the longitudinal edge 151 and the adjacent longitudinal fold line let). A tab 164 of the top panel portion 154 is provided with a transverse fold line 165 in spaced parallel relationship to the adjacent fold line 151. A flange forming strip 165 lies between the transverse fold line 165 and the adjacent transverse fold line 161.

The first side panel portion 155 is joined to the top panel portion 154 by an integral fourth flange-forming strip 167. The first side panel portion 155 includes a first side panel 168 bounded by a pair of longitudinal fold lines 171} and a pair of transverse fold lines 171. A fifth flange-forming strip 172 is set off by the longitudinal fold line 170 adjacent the discontinuous longitudinal edge 150. A sixth flange-forming strip 173 is similarly set off by the discontinuous longitudinal edge 151 and the adjacent longitudinal fold line 171). A cut-out portion 174 is formed between the first flange-forming strip 1&2 and the fifth flange-forming strip 172, while a similar cutout portion 175 is provided between the second flange-forming strip 163 and the sixth flange-forming strip 173. The first side panel portion 155 of the blank 14 i is joined to the bottom panel portion 156 by an integral seventh flange-forming strip 176.

The bottom panel portion 156 includes a bottom panel 177 set off by a pair of parallel, spaced, longitudinal fold lines 178 and a pair of parallel spaced transverse fold lines 180. The longitudinal fold line 178 adjacent the discontinuous longitudinal edge 150 defines there-with an eighth flangeforming strip 181, while the longitudinal fold line 178 adjacent the discontinuous edge 151 similarly defines therewith a ninth fiange-forming strip 182. A cut-out portion 183 is provided between the fifth flangeforming strip 172 of the first side panel portion 155 and the eighth flange-forming strip 181 of the bottom panel portion 156. A similar cut-out portion 184 is formed between the sixth flange-forming strip 173 of the first side panel 155 and the ninth flange-forming strip 182 of the bottom panel portion 156.

The bottom panel portion 156 is joined to the second side panel portion 157 by an integral tenth flange-forming strip 185. A pair of spaced parallel longitudinal fold lines 186 and a pair of spaced parallel transverse fold lines 137 in the second panel portion 157 bound a second side panel 188. An eleventh flange-forming strip 190 is defined by the discontinuous longitudinal edge 150 having an adjacent longitudinal fold line 186 while a twelfth flange-forming strip 1fi1'is set off by the discontinuous longitudinal edge 151 and the adjacent longitudinal fold line A thirteenth flange-forming strip 192 is set off by the second transverse edge 153 and the adjacent transverse fold line 187 of the second panel portion 157. A cut-out portion 1% is formed between the eleventh flange-forming strip 1% and the eighth flangeforming strip 131 of the bottom panel portion 156. A similar cut-out portion 1% is provided between the twelfth flange-forming strip 191 of the second panel portion 157 and the ninth flange-forming strip 182 of the bottom panel portion 156.

Before the three-piece composite blank 141 can be erected to form the carton 1411 the front panel 142 and the back panel 143 or the elongated substantially rectangular strip 144 may be lined with polyethylene or simiIar hot-melt adhesive whereby particular portions of the three-piece composite blank 141 can be joined to each other during the fabrication of the carton 140 by the mere application of heat thereto. Alternatively, all of the flange-forming strips except the third flange-forming strip 166 and the thirteenth flange-forming strip 192 may be coated with an adhesive prior to erecting the carton 146. The flange-forming strips 166 and 192 are not coated with an adhesive since the same forms a spout portion of the carton 14% in a manner to be described hereafter, and the spout portion is sealed only after the carton has been filled. Another way of treating the three-piece composite blank 141 prior to the erection of the carton lad is to apply an adhesive to the front and back panels 142 and 143 respectively, along and adjacent the edges 145 through 1 :3; and further applying an adhesive to the flange-forming strips 167, 176 and of the blank 144.

Irrespective of the manner in which the portions of the three-piece composite blank 141 are joined, the carton 14%- formed therefrom has no raw edges exposed to the interior thereof, and when erected, the carton has three reinforcing flanges extending from each corner where three planes of three adjacent panels intersect.

The elongated blank 1&4 is preferably constructed from a thinner, longer fibered paperstock material than the material from which the front panel 142 and the back panel 143 are constructed. The relatively stifler and thicker panels 14-2 and 143 lend rigidity to the carton While the relatively thinner, longer fibered material of the rectangular blank 144 permits easy bending of this blank during the erection of the carton 1411.

The blank 144 is folded to a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, as is best illustrated in FIG- URE 13 of the drawings. The fourth flange-forming strip 67 is folded along the fold lines 161 and 171, and is secured to a portion of the side panel 168 to define therewith a first reinforcing flange. The seventh flange-forming strip 176 is similarly folded and secured to a portion of the first side panel 168 to form a second reinforcing flange. A third reinforcing flange is formed by the tenth flangeforming strip 185 overlying and secured to an edge portion of the second side panel 188. A fourth reinforcing flange is formed by the abutment of the third fiangeforming strip 166 and the thirteenth flange-forming strip 192 which are adhesively or otherwise secured together after the carton has been completely erected and filled.

Four additional reinforcing flanges are formed by overlying and securing the flange-forming strips 162, 172, 181 and 190 to the back panel 143 along the respective edges 147, 145, 148 and 146. The flange-forming strips 163, 173, 182 and 191 of the blank 144 are similarly secured adjacent the res ective edges 147, 145, 148 and 146 of the front panel 142. Thus, the sixth-sided carton 140 of FIGURES l2 through is provided with twelve reinforcing flanges and there are three reinforcing flanges in every corner of intersection between any three panels. For example, in the uppermost right-hand corner of FIG- URE 13, the back panel 143, the top panel 158 and the first side panel 163 intersect at a common corner at the fold line 161. At this corner the flange-forming strip 162 and the portion of the back panel 143 adhesively or otherwise secured thereto defines a first reinforcing flange. A second reinforcing flange is formed by the flange-forming strip 172 secured to the back panel 143 adjacent its edge 145. A third reinforcing flange is formed by the flnageforming strip 167 secured to the portion of the side panel portion 155 adjacent the fold line 171. Exceptional strength at this corner, as well as each of the remaining corners of the blank, is effected by the reinforcing flanges. At the same time no internal raw edges are created (see FIGURES l2 through 15). Furthermore, the carton 140 is completely symmetrical and yields an identical crosssectional configuration when a cross-section is taken in each o three mutually perpendicular planes. For example, FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view of the carton taken through the X-Y plane thereof. An identical crosssectional configuration of the carton 140 is yielded when either an X-Z or a Y-Z plane is taken through the carton 140. This symmetry additionally enhances the reinforcement of the carton 140.

Referring to FIGURE 16 of the drawings, the blank 144 includes a plurality of cut-out portions 174, 175, 183, 184, 193 and 194 which facilitate the folding of the blank 144 during the erection of the carton 140 in the manner heretofore described. These cut-out portions represent a loss ofmaterial which is avoided in another embodiment of this invention by cutting and scoring a blank, such as the blank 144 along the cut-out portions thereof, rather than actually forming cut-out portions.

The above construction is shown in FIGURES 17 through 19 of the drawings, and as is best illustrated in FIGURE 18, a portion of an elongated substantially rectangular blank 230 having an elongated edge 231 is provided with a longitudinal fold line 232, a longitudinal fold line 233, a transverse fold line 234 and another transverse fold line 235. A side panel 236 is partially bounded by the fold lines 233 and 235 while a top panel 237 is partially bounded by the fold lines 232 and 234. A fold line 238 forming a continuation of the transverse fold line 235 terminates at the longitudinal edge 231 of the substantially rectangular blank 2%. A severance or cut line 240 extends from the inner section of the fold lines 232 and 234 and terminates .at the longitudinal edge 231. Another severance or cut line 241 extends between the junctions of the fold lines 232,234 and 233, 235. The longitudinal edge 231. the severance line 240, the severance line 241 and the fold line 238 bound a substantially rectangular tab 242. The tab 242 occupies an area substantially equal toany one of the areas of the cut-out portions of the blank 144 of FIGURE 16.

A first flange-forming strip 243 is set off by the longitudinal edge 231, the fold line 238 and the fold line 233 'of the rectangular blank 230. A second flange-forming 19 strip 243 is partially set off by the longitudinal edge 231, the severance line 240 and the longitudinal fold line 232. A third flange-forming strip 244 is partially set ofi by the transverse fold line 234, the severance line 241 and the transverse fold line 235.

The substantially elongated blank 230 of FIGURE 18 is folded in a manner substantially identical to that discussed in connection with the blank. 144, except for the fact that the tab 242 overlies and is adhesively secured to a reinforcing flange formed in part by the flange-forming strip 244. When the blank 230 is coated with a hotmelt coating such as polyethylene, the surface of the tab 242 so coated is in contact with a portion of the flange-forming strip 244 and is heat-bonded thereto. The completely erected blank 230 may then be similarly bonded to a panel 245 in the manner heretofore discussed in the consideration of the composite blank 14-1 of FIGURE 16.

While the tab 242 overlies and is secured to the flangeforming strip 244, it does not necessarily have to be so positioned. For example, the tab 242 may be readily positioned and adhered between the flange-forming strip 243 and the panel 245. Furthermore during the folding of the blank 230, the tab 242 could be positioned between the flange-forming strip 244 and the top panel 237.

A carton 247 illustrated in FIGURES 20 and 21 of the drawings includes a top 248 and a bottom 250. The bottom 250 of the carton 247 includes a substantially rectangular wall 251 having an upstanding rectangular tubular body 252 adhesively secured to the wall 251 by a plurality of inwardly directed flanges 253.

The top 248 of the carton 247 includes a substantially rectangular top or panel 254 and a substantially rectangular tubular depending skirt 255. The skirt 255 is constructed from an elongated rectangular blank, similar to the rectangular blank 144 of FIGURE 16, except that the cut-out portions have not been removed and the blank 255 is a continuous non-severed blank. Furthermore the flange-forming strips on either longitudinal edges of the blank 144 have been removed from the blank which forms the skirt 255 of the carton 247.

The skirt 255 includes four panels 256, 257, 258 and 260 folded to form four reinforcing flanges 261 through 264, Each of the panels 256, 257, 258 and 260 includes an identical flange-forming strip 265 (only two of which are shown in FIGURE 20). Each two intersecting panels unite with the top wall 254 to form a corner of the top 243. The respective intersecting panels forming the corners are each folded identically and a description of the folding of the panels 258 and 261 of FIGURE 22 is deemed sufiicient for an understanding of each corner construction of the top 243.

As is shown in FIGURE 22 of the drawings, the panel 269 is folded in the direction of an arrow 266 about a fold line 267 to form the reinforcing flange 262. During this movement a portion of the reinforcing flange 262 is folded about a fold line 268 in av direction of an arrow 270 until the flange-forming strips 265 of the panels 258 and 2641 are normal to each other. At this time the portionof the reinforcing flange 262 fc-lded about the fold line 268 is in alignment with an edge 271 of the flangeforming strip 265 of the panel 258. Thus, no cut-outs, perforations, or severance lines are necessary and the corner construction of the top panel 248 is completely liquid and sift-proof.

When the top panel 248 is tclescoped about the bottom 25th of the carton 247 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 21, a full flanged carton is formed. That is, twelve reinforcing flanges strengthen the carton 247 and serve as fenders or energy absorbers in the manner similar to that heretofore discussed to protect any contents within the carton 247 from inadvertent or accidental damage thereto.

In each of the cartons heretofore described, the flanges strengthen the respective edges and decrease the tendency of the panels to bulge when the cartons are filled. The

ill.

flanges in addition to performing a reinforcing function serve as fenders or energy absorbers to protect the contents of the cartons from punctures, crushing and shock during shipment or use.

The front and back panels of the composite blank Mil are simple flat rectangles which can be purchased as such, thereby involving no waste of material, no die cut ting, no scoring and no particular bending properties. These panels can be made of relatively inexpensive material from a relatively stiff construction.

When the top, side, or bottom panels are constructed from individual pieces of material, the grain of one or more of these panels could run at right angles to the grain direction of any adjacent panel wherever an advantage would develop thereby either for ease or economy of manufacturing or for carton-foldability, much in the manner as discussed in the connection of FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings.

When individual panels are employed, a variety of choices are available as to which of the panels may be left off entirely or put on only after the carton has been filled. Furthermore, since all of the flanges are secured to the front and back panels of the carton and are directed externally of the carton, any one of these flanges may be left totally or in part unsealed until after filling.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provisions have been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is again directed to the fact that additional variations may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising a bottom panel, two opposed side panels, a top panel, a front panel and a back panel, the plurality of panels forming a carton body, said panels being constructed from at least two blanks of material joined to each other, one of said blanks of material being relatively rigid and non-foldable and at least another of said blanks being relatively foldable and resilient, each of the two opposed side panels including a pair of spaced flange-forming panel portions, one of the panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the front panel and the other of the pair of panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the back panel, thereby forming a einforcing flange at each juncture of adjacent panels, a plane taken normally through said reinforcing flanges defining a substantially polygonal outline, the material of each of said blanks being fibrous material, and the fibers of one of said blanks being longer than the fibers of the other of said blanks.

2. A carton comprising a bottom panel, two opposed side panels, to top panel, a front panel and a back panel, the plurality of panels forming a carton body, said panels being constructed from at least two blanks of material joined to each other, one of said blanks of material being relatively rigid and non-folda'ble and at least another of :said blanks being relatively foldable and resilient, each of the two opposed side panels including a pair of spaced flange-forming panel portions, one of the panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the front panel and the other of the pair of panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the back panel, thereby forming a reinforcing flange at each juncture of adjacent panels, a plane taken normally through said reinforcing flanges defining a substantially polygonal outline, said front and back panels are each constructed of a single piece of material and opposed side, top and bottom panels are all formed of a single piece of material, and the material of said front panel being of a thicker gauge than the material of the opposed side, top and bottom panels.

3. A carton comprising a bottom panel, two opposed .side panels, a top panel, a front panel and a back panel,

the plurality of panels forming a carton body, said panels being constructed from at least two blanks of material joined to each other, one of said blanks of material being relatively rigid and non-foldable and at least another of said blanks being relatively foldable and resilient, each of the two opposed side panels including a pair of spaced flange-forming panel portions, one of the panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the front panel and the other of the pair of panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the back panel, thereby forming a reinforcing flange at each juncture of adjacent panels, a plane taken normally through said reinforcing flanges defining a substantially polygonal outline, a plurality of additional flanges are formed by a plurality of additional flange-forming strips of said top, bottom and side panels overlying and secured to at least one of said front and back panels.

4. The carton as defined in claim 3 wherein each two adjacent flanges of said plurality of additional flanges are normal to each other.

5. The carton as defined in claim 3 wherein two adjacent flanges of said plurality of additional flanges lie in a common plane and normal to at least one reinforcing flange formed at each juncture of reinforcing adjacent panels.

6. The carton as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said additional flanges is formed by a line of severance between each two of a plurality of flange-forming panel portions forming the plurality of additional flanges, and each line of severance defines a tab forming a three-ply reinforcing portion of at least selected ones of said additional flanges.

7. A carton comprising a bottom panel, two opposed side panels, a top panel, a front panel and a back panel, the plurality of panels forming a carton body, said panels being constructed from at least two blanks of material join-ed to each other, one of said blanks of material being relatively rigid and nonfoldable and another of said blanks being relatively foldable and resilient, each of the two opposed side panels including a pair of spaced flangeforming panel portions, one of the panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the front panel and the other of the pair of panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the back panel, thereby forming a reinforcing flange at each juncture of adjacent panels, a plane taken normally through said reinforcing flanges defining a substantially polygonal outline, one of said front and back panels being constructed from a single piece of material, the remaining one of said front and back panels and said side, top and bottom panels all being formed of a single piece of material, and the material of said one panel is thicker than the material of said remaining panels.

8. A carton comprising a bottom panel, two opposed side panels, a top panel, a front panel and a back panel, the plurality of panels forming a carton body, said panels being constructed from at least two blanks of material joined to each other, one of said blanks of material being relatively rigid and non-foldable and the other of said blanks being relatively foldable and resilient, each of the two opposed side panels including a pair of spaced flangeforming panel portions, one of the panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlying secured to the front panel and the other of the pair of panel portions of each of the pair of panel portions being overlyingly secured to the back panel, thereby forming a reinforcing flange at each juncture of adjacent panels, a plane taken normally through said reinforcing flanges defining a substantially polygonal outline, one of said front and side panels being constructed from a single piece of material, and the back panel and another of said side panels being also constructed from a single piece of material.

9. A carton comprising a pair of generally tubular bodies, a first of said bodies being defined by a first tubular body wall closed at one axial end portion by a first end panel, a second of said bodies being defined by a second tubular body wall closed at one axial end portion by a second end panel, said first and second body walls being normally disposed in telescopic relationship, said first and second end panels being normally dis-posed in generally spaced parallel relationship, said first and second end panels projecting radially beyond the associated body walls, thereby defining peripheral reinforcing flanges, at least one of said body walls having a reinforcing flange disposed in generally parallel relationship to the axes of said bodies, and said last-mentioned flange having an axial length generally equal to the distance between said end panels when said body walls are normally disposed in telescopic relationship to each other.

10. The carton as defined in claim 9 wherein only said one body Wall has an axially disposed reinforcing flange, and the other of said body walls is devoid of an axially disposed reinforcing flange.

11. The carton as defined in claim 9 wherein said firs-t and second body walls are defined by a plurality of panels with adjacent one of the panels defining corners of the body walls, and the reinforcing flange of said one body wall is disposed at one of the corners thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,307,902 1/1943 Vogt et al7 22955 3,087,668 5/1963 Oler 22953 3,175,749 3/1965 Elias 22917 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner. 

1. A CARTON COMPRISING A BOTTOM PANEL, TWO OPPOSED SIDE PANELS, A TOP PANEL, A FRONT PANEL AND A BACK PANEL, THE PLURALITY OF PANELS FORMING A CARTON BODY, SAID PANELS BEING CONSTRUCTED FROM AT LEAST TWO BLANKS OF MATERIAL JOINED TOEACH OTHER, ONE OF SAID BLANKS OF MATERIAL BEING RELATIVELY RIGID AND NON-FOLDABLE AND AT LEAST ANOTHER OF SAID BLANKS BEING RELATIVELY FOLDABLE AND RESILIENT, EACH OF THE TWO OPPOSED SIDE PANELS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED FLANGE-FORMING PANEL PORTIONS, ONE OF THE PANEL PORTIONS OF EACH OF THE PAIR OF PANEL PORTIONS BEING OVERLYINGLY SECURED TO THE FRONT PANEL AND THE OTHER OF THE PAIR OF PANEL PORTIONS OF EACH OF THE PAIR OF PANEL PORTIONS BEING OVERLYINGLY SECURED TO THE BACK PANEL, THEREBY FORMING A REINFORCING FLANGE AT EACH JUNCTURE OF ADJACENT PANELS, A PLANE TAKEN NORMALLY THROUGH SAID REINFORCING FLANGES DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY POLYGONAL OUTLINE, THE MATERIAL OF EACH OF SAID BLANKS BEING FIBROUS MATERIAL, AND THE FIBERS OF ONE OF SAID BLANKS BEING LONGER THAN THE FIBERS OF THE OTHER OF SAID BLANKS. 